Scarcity is celebrated in some business models but not in others. For companies like Apple product scarcity works. There are those die-hard Apple fans who camp out and stand in line to get the latest release iPhone. This gives them a story to talk about and to tell themselves. Being part of the launch day experience makes them feel special, connected and a part of something that matters.
Conversely scarcity and associations leaves members unhappy. Even after spending gobs of money to join an elite organization or attend a conference many members find it hard to participate in more meaningful ways. 300 people applying for just 12 volunteer slots disillusions 288. 1 in 4 proposals selected to present content at the conference is particularly frustrating when the same old presenters always speak.
When members are raising their hands to participate figure out how they can or don’t set the expectation in the first place.
Related posts:
- How member expectations work
- It doesn’t matter what other associations do
- How to engage-long time members
*Photo of a manatee taken at Blue Spring state park, Orange City, Florida